Chapter 2 Friends Without Trying #2
Alex smiled with visible relief and followed him inside.
The familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee instantly relaxed him.
Jamie poured a large mug and slid it across the counter without asking how Alex liked it.
Alex noticed.
"You remembered."
"You always drink black coffee before important meetings."
Alex looked down at the steaming mug.
"I never told you that."
"You didn't have to."
Jamie leaned casually against the counter.
"You've done it every Monday since we met."
Alex shook his head with quiet disbelief.
"You really do notice everything."
"I notice the people I care about."
The words slipped out before Jamie could stop them.
A brief silence followed.
Jamie quickly reached for the sugar bowl, pretending to organize something that didn't need organizing.
"I mean... my friends."
Alex's expression softened.
"I know."
The awkwardness disappeared almost as quickly as it had arrived.
Jamie motioned toward the dining table.
"Let's see what you're presenting."
Alex opened his portfolio and spread architectural drawings, financial reports, and presentation notes across the table.
"This is the proposal for a mixed-use development downtown."
Jamie studied the colorful renderings.
Apartment buildings.
Retail spaces.
A public park.
A community center.
"It looks impressive."
"It has to be."
Alex rubbed his temples.
"There are four companies competing for the contract."
Jamie quietly listened while Alex explained the project in detail.
Although construction wasn't Jamie's field, he could easily hear the passion in Alex's voice.
Whenever Alex spoke about building something meaningful, his entire face changed.
His confidence returned.
His eyes brightened.
His shoulders straightened.
Jamie admired that.
"You really love what you do."
Alex smiled.
"I do."
"You don't just build buildings."
Alex looked at him curiously.
"You build places where people start their lives."
The sentence lingered.
Alex hadn't thought about it that way before.
"I guess I do."
Jamie smiled.
"I think that's why you're going to get this project."
Alex laughed nervously.
"I wish confidence worked like that."
"It helps."
Jamie walked around the table, reading through the presentation slides.
Halfway through, he stopped.
"You repeat this point twice."
Alex frowned.
"I do?"
Jamie pointed at two separate pages.
"Here."
Alex looked closer.
"I didn't even notice."
Jamie continued reading.
A few minutes later he rearranged two presentation boards.
"This order tells the story better."
Alex studied the new layout.
It really did.
"How do you always see these things?"
Jamie shrugged.
"Photography teaches you how people naturally look at information."
Alex looked genuinely impressed.
"I should hire you."
Jamie laughed.
"I don't know the first thing about construction."
"You know people."
Jamie smiled.
"I like people."
Alex quietly thought that was one of Jamie's greatest strengths.
Jamie naturally understood emotions.
He knew when someone needed encouragement instead of advice.
He noticed details everyone else overlooked.
He made people feel comfortable simply by existing.
Those qualities couldn't be taught.
After another thirty minutes, the presentation finally looked finished.
Alex leaned back with a relieved sigh.
"I actually feel ready now."
Jamie grinned.
"I told you."
Alex stood.
"I should get dressed."
Jamie blinked.
"You are dressed."
Alex looked down.
"My tie."
He held up two nearly identical silk ties.
"I've been staring at these for fifteen minutes."
Jamie accepted both.
One was dark navy.
The other carried subtle silver stripes.
He studied Alex carefully before choosing the navy tie.
"This one."
"Why?"
"It keeps people's attention on your face."
Alex laughed.
"You sound very confident."
"I am."
Jamie stepped closer.
"Hold still."
Without thinking, he looped the tie around Alex's collar.
Alex froze.
Jamie had tied enough neckties for photography clients over the years that the movement came naturally.
His fingers worked quickly.
Alex remained completely still.
They were suddenly much closer than either of them realized.
Jamie could smell Alex's cedarwood cologne.
Alex noticed a faint scent of vanilla from Jamie's sweater.
Neither spoke.
Jamie finished adjusting the knot before smoothing the tie against Alex's shirt.
"There."
Alex looked down.
"Perfect."
Only then did Jamie realize how close they were standing.
He stepped back immediately.
"Sorry."
"What for?"
"I just..."
Alex smiled.
"Thank you."
The moment passed naturally.
Jamie handed Alex his suit jacket.
"You've prepared for weeks."
Alex nodded.
"You know your numbers."
Another nod.
"You know your company."
"Yes."
Jamie smiled warmly.
"So stop worrying about being perfect."
Alex looked at him.
"They're hiring you because you're the best person for the job."
Jamie straightened Alex's collar one final time.
"Now go prove it."
For a second, Alex simply stared at him.
Then he smiled.
"You know..."
"What?"
"I always leave here feeling better."
Jamie's heart warmed.
"I'm glad."
Alex picked up his portfolio.
"I'll call you after the meeting."
"I'll be waiting."
As soon as the apartment door closed behind Alex, Jamie realized exactly what he'd said.
He would be waiting.
And he really would.
The entire afternoon passed far slower than usual.
Jamie tried editing photographs.
He answered emails.
He tested new dessert recipes.
None of it held his attention for long.
Every time his phone vibrated, he looked up hopefully.
Finally, just after four o'clock, it rang.
Alex.
Jamie answered immediately.
"Well?"
Silence.
Then...
"I got it."
Jamie's face lit up.
"You did?"
"We got the contract."
His voice overflowed with excitement.
"The whole project."
Jamie laughed happily.
"Alex!"
"I still can't believe it."
"I can."
Alex laughed.
"No, you can't."
"I absolutely can."
Jamie smiled proudly.
"I told you this morning."
"You did."
"And?"
Alex chuckled.
"You were right."
"I usually am."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
Jamie laughed again.
"What are you doing tonight?"
Alex asked.
"Nothing."
"Good."
"We're celebrating."
"We?"
"I already texted everyone."
Jamie smiled.
"I'll be there."
That evening several of their mutual friends gathered at their favorite neighborhood pub.
The atmosphere was loud and cheerful.
Emma arrived first, immediately throwing her arms around her brother.
"I knew you'd get it."
Alex hugged her back.
"Thanks."
Marcus and Daniel followed, bringing congratulations and plenty of jokes about Alex finally taking a vacation.
Mrs. Harper even stopped by briefly with homemade cookies before insisting young people celebrated differently than she did.
The evening passed with laughter, stories, and endless congratulations.
Jamie quietly noticed Alex smiling more than he'd ever seen before.
He deserved it.
As another round of drinks arrived, Emma raised her glass.
"To Alex."
Everyone cheered.
"And..."
She looked toward Jamie.
"...to the man who probably deserves half the credit."
Jamie blinked.
"What?"
Emma pointed toward Alex.
"You practically rehearsed that presentation with him."
Marcus laughed.
"And probably fed him enough to survive it."
Daniel nodded dramatically.
"I guarantee Alex would've shown up wearing mismatched socks without Jamie."
Everyone laughed.
Alex rubbed the back of his neck.
"That might actually be true."
Jamie smiled.
"I would've noticed."
Emma grinned mischievously.
"Oh, we know."
She looked around the table before delivering the sentence that made everyone laugh.
"Jamie, you're basically Alex's wife already."
The table erupted.
Marcus nearly spilled his drink.
Daniel laughed so hard he leaned against the table.
Even Alex laughed.
Jamie covered his face with one hand, unable to stop smiling.
"That's terrible."
"It's accurate," Emma insisted.
"He cooks."
Marcus counted on his fingers.
"He remembers appointments."
Daniel added another.
"He fixes Alex's schedule."
Emma continued.
"He picks his clothes."
Marcus laughed.
"He even knows Alex's coffee order."
Daniel raised his glass.
"Honestly, Alex's future spouse has impossible standards now."
Alex shook his head, still laughing.
"You people are unbelievable."
Emma pointed at Jamie again.
"I stand by what I said."
Jamie finally lowered his hand.
"I'm just being a good friend."
Emma smiled knowingly.
"Mhm."
The conversation quickly moved on to other topics.
The laughter faded.
The drinks continued.
No one mentioned it again.
Yet despite laughing along with everyone else, Alex caught himself glancing toward Jamie more than once that evening.
Jamie did exactly the same.
The joke had been harmless.
Funny.
Completely innocent.
So why did neither of them seem able to forget it?
Somewhere beneath the laughter, the word wife had planted a tiny, unexpected thought.
Neither man was ready to examine it.
Not yet.
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